Demo for job quota reform

50 injured as protesters, police clash at Shahbagh

At least 50 people, including six journalists and three policemen, were injured and the capital’s Shahbagh area wore the look of a war zone yesterday as students of various universities and job seekers, demanding reform to the government job quota system, clashed with police after the law enforcers used water cannons, tear shells and rubber bullets to remove protesters from the thoroughfare.

Sporadic clashes between several thousand protesters and police continued till writing of this report today at 1:30am, with reports of more students from various dormitories of Dhaka University, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, BUET and other educational institutions joining the protesters. Female students of Rokeya Hall were seen gathering outside their dormitory in support of the protest.

Law enforcers, taking up position at the Shahbagh intersection, also increased their strength and continued firing tear shells at regular intervals at the protesters. To save themselves from teas gas shells, protesters set fire to wood, leaves and other objects. Several hundred rounds of tear shells and rubber bullets were fired during the clashes that erupted at about 8:00pm, said witnesses.

At least three injured policemen were taken away from the scene, while two students hit by rubber bullets in their eyes were admitted to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a critical condition. One of them was identified as Dhaka University Bangla Department third year student Abu Bakr Siddique. Witnesses at DMCH said at least 50 students were admitted to the hospital with various injuries.

At least six journalists were also injured in the police attack. They are UNB Dhaka University correspondent Imran Hossain, Prothom Alo DU correspondent Ashiqur Rahman, Dhaka Tribune's university correspondent Fahim Reza, bdnews24.com's correspondent Tareq Al Hasan, BSS correspondent Quamruzzaman Reza and a cameraperson of ATN Bangla Television.

Law enforcers also detained at least 11 people from the spot, said sources.

Meanwhile, the protesters have called for an indefinite student strike at all universities

and colleges across the country from today. Hasan Al Mamun, convener of the platform of the protesting students, made the announcement yesterday night.

Earlier, hundreds of students from different academic institutions and job seekers staged a demonstration demanding a revision of the reservation quota system, terming the existing policy as discriminatory. The protesters, under the banner of Bangladesh Shadharan Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad, marched to the Shahbagh intersection, one of the busiest area in the capital, at about 2:30pm, throwing the traffic out of gear.

Hundreds of students started the march from Dhaka University's central library with banners and placards in their hands. The procession passed through Nilkhet and Kantaban on its way to Shahbagh.

They said they would not leave the street until parliament announced reforms to the quota system. The protesters also burned an effigy of Public Administration Senior Secretary Md Mozammel Haque Khan.

“We will clear the road once parliament decides in our favour. Our protest is completely non-violent. We will not retaliate even if they shoot us,” Hasan Al Mamun told reporters in the afternoon.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Maruf Hossain Sarder said in the afternoon they requested the protesters not to create public sufferings. Later, at about 8:00pm, police began firing teargas, used water cannons and baton charged to swiftly disperse the protesters from Shahbagh intersection.

However, the protesters took up position near the Raju Memorial Sculpture on the Dhaka University campus and more students joined them. Some gathered flammable objects on the street and set fire to those in front of the Faculty of Fine Arts.

Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzman told reporters that he had warned the police not to do ‘excess’ or attack the students.   

Meanwhile, a group Bangladesh Chhatra League activists, the ruling Awami League’s student wing, attacked the protesters when they moved back towards the TSC.  The BCL activists also allegedly snatched and broke a mobile phone of journalist Saiful Islam Khan of daily Jugantor when he was filming the incident.

Protests by students and job seekers calling for the quota reforms have been continuing for some time. On Mar 14, the protesters attempted to deliver a five-point petition to the Secretariat, but the police dispersed the demonstration and made several arrests.

Facing protests by the jobseekers demanding an overhaul of the system, the public administration ministry announced a decision relaxing it on Mar 6, but the demonstrations continued. The ministry later clarified the decision.

According to the quota system, 56 percent posts are reserved for different quotas, including 30 percent for children of freedom fighters, 10 percent each for women and particular districts, 5 percent for small ethnic groups, and 1 percent for people with disabilities.

The demonstrators demanded reduction of quotas in government jobs, recruitment of job seekers to vacant posts on the basis of merit if eligible candidates are not found under quota, stoppage of special recruitment tests for quota candidates, and unified age limit for all job seekers. The protesters declared that the movement would continue until the demands are met.

 

 

Demo for job quota reform

50 injured as protesters, police clash at Shahbagh

At least 50 people, including six journalists and three policemen, were injured and the capitals Shahbagh area wore the look of a war zone yesterday as students of various universities and job seekers, demanding reform to the government job quota system, clashed with police after the law enforcers used water cannons, tear shells and rubber bullets to remove protesters from the thoroughfare. Sporadic clashes between several thousand protesters and police continued till writing of this report today at 1:30am, with reports of more students from various dormitories of Dhaka University, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, BUET and other educational institutions joining the protesters. Female students of Rokeya Hall were seen gathering outside their dormitory in support of the protest. Law enforcers, taking up position at the Shahbagh intersection, also increased their strength and continued firing tear shells at regular intervals at the protesters. To save themselves from teas gas shells, protesters set fire to wood, leaves and other objects. Several hundred rounds of tear shells and rubber bullets were fired during the clashes that erupted at about 8:00pm, said witnesses. At least three injured policemen were taken away from the scene, while two students hit by rubber bullets in their eyes were admitted to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a critical condition. One of them was identified as Dhaka University Bangla Department third year student Abu Bakr Siddique. Witnesses at DMCH said at least 50 students were admitted to the hospital with various injuries. At least six journalists were also injured in the police attack. They are UNB Dhaka University correspondent Imran Hossain, Prothom Alo DU correspondent Ashiqur Rahman, Dhaka Tribunes university correspondent Fahim Reza, bdnews24.coms correspondent Tareq Al Hasan, BSS correspondent Quamruzzaman Reza and a cameraperson of ATN Bangla Television. Law enforcers also detained at least 11 people from the spot, said sources. Meanwhile, the protesters have called for an indefinite student strike at all universities and colleges across the country from today. Hasan Al Mamun, convener of the platform of the protesting students, made the announcement yesterday night. Earlier, hundreds of students from different academic institutions and job seekers staged a demonstration demanding a revision of the reservation quota system, terming the existing policy as discriminatory. The protesters, under the banner of Bangladesh Shadharan Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad, marched to the Shahbagh intersection, one of the busiest area in the capital, at about 2:30pm, throwing the traffic out of gear. Hundreds of students started the march from Dhaka Universitys central library with banners and placards in their hands. The procession passed through Nilkhet and Kantaban on its way to Shahbagh. They said they would not leave the street until parliament announced reforms to the quota system. The protesters also burned an effigy of Public Administration Senior Secretary Md Mozammel Haque Khan. We will clear the road once parliament decides in our favour. Our protest is completely non-violent. We will not retaliate even if they shoot us, Hasan Al Mamun told reporters in the afternoon. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Maruf Hossain Sarder said in the afternoon they requested the protesters not to create public sufferings. Later, at about 8:00pm, police began firing teargas, used water cannons and baton charged to swiftly disperse the protesters from Shahbagh intersection. However, the protesters took up position near the Raju Memorial Sculpture on the Dhaka University campus and more students joined them. Some gathered flammable objects on the street and set fire to those in front of the Faculty of Fine Arts. Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzman told reporters that he had warned the police not to do excess or attack the students. Meanwhile, a group Bangladesh Chhatra League activists, the ruling Awami Leagues student wing, attacked the protesters when they moved back towards the TSC. The BCL activists also allegedly snatched and broke a mobile phone of journalist Saiful Islam Khan of daily Jugantor when he was filming the incident. Protests by students and job seekers calling for the quota reforms have been continuing for some time. On Mar 14, the protesters attempted to deliver a five-point petition to the Secretariat, but the police dispersed the demonstration and made several arrests. Facing protests by the jobseekers demanding an overhaul of the system, the public administration ministry announced a decision relaxing it on Mar 6, but the demonstrations continued. The ministry later clarified the decision. According to the quota system, 56 percent posts are reserved for different quotas, including 30 percent for children of freedom fighters, 10 percent each for women and particular districts, 5 percent for small ethnic groups, and 1 percent for people with disabilities. The demonstrators demanded reduction of quotas in government jobs, recruitment of job seekers to vacant posts on the basis of merit if eligible candidates are not found under quota, stoppage of special recruitment tests for quota candidates, and unified age limit for all job seekers. The protesters declared that the movement would continue until the demands are met.